Fishing report

Summer is here and catfish are biting best, particularly on dipbait or cut bait. Bluegill are also good and bass rank next best, though better for numbers than sizes.

Journal Star

Writer

Posted Jun. 27, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 27, 2008 at 8:09 PM

Posted Jun. 27, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 27, 2008 at 8:09 PM

Summer is here and catfish are biting best, particularly on dipbait or cut bait. Bluegill are also good and bass rank next best, though better for numbers than sizes.

ILLINOIS RIVER

- Catfish good near Peoria, with 14 boats combining for 73 channel cats and 338.2 pounds last Saturday at a Tri-County Catfish Association tournament out of Pekin. Big fish was 9.6 pounds. Fishing good despite water level dropping says Tom Grider at Riverside Bait in Pekin. Lots of channel cat and quite a few white bass. Adam Jaegle at Presley's Outdoors says to target willows with dipbait and shrimp.

- Catfish very good off bank says Maryann Rilko of Riverfront Bait Shop in Hennepin. One angler caught 30 one night last week on nightcrawlers.

- Catfish good near Henry says Marge Hankins at Hankins Riverview. Better on nightcrawlers near marina. Sauger better before rain; best action near Lake Senachwine on crankbaits.

- Fishing good near Starved Rock with river at normal depth says Darrell "Buster" Culjan at Cajun Sporting Goods in Utica. Catfish very good on dipbait and shrimp, also along channel's edge. Vermilion producing channels and flatheads, smallmouths on spinners and leeches.

- Near Ottawa catfish best on shad or herring says Julie Farrell of B&B's Live Bait in Ottawa. Best action by barge terminal, some off bank. Stripers fair on baby roach shiners and spinners. Some smallmouth on minnows or nightcrawlers by dam gates.

Numerous dead carp reported but biologist Mike Garthaus tells Larry Dozard (larrysfishinghole.com) the kill is due to spawning stress and a bacterial infection. Saugeye fair to good (12- to 15-inchers) off points, flats, humps and drop-offs. Bass hitting wacky worms along windless shorelines and spinners. Catfish fair to good on nightcrawlers and liver.

POWERTON LAKE

Boats will be allowed on the lake starting Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mostly catfish being caught off bank says Grider. Smallmouth reports should pick up once boaters can reach other shorelines.

Not many panfish but bass active says Grider. Winning weight this week was 11 pounds for three fish. Spinnerbaits and top-waters producing. Catfish best on dipbait, stinkbait and cut bait. Bluegill fair but small.

Page 2 of 2 - LAKE STOREY

Lots of bluegill says Al Hayden at Al's Sporting good in Galesburg. Best on crickets, good on wax worms and all else. A few catfish on dipbait; some on worms, chicken liver. Bass fair. Walleye OK at outside weed edges on jigs and nightcrawlers.

STRIP PITS

Bluegill very good and still on the beds in some lakes. Edges of weedlines also good. Bass good on top-water early, moving into weeds during the day and taking Senkos and soft plastics. Shaky-head fishing working. Catfish picking up on meaty baits, dipbait. Crappie slow.

AROUND THE STATE

For a statewide fishing report visit www.prairiestateoutdoors.com

- Catfish good at Argyle Lake on dipbait says Roger Seatherlin at The Deck II. Saugeye good on dew worms and minnows at night in 4-5 feet of water. Bluegill good.

- Fishing best at the Hennepin Canal from the feeder west says Ann Downey at Northside Bait & Archery in Kewanee. Stinkbait, shrimp and worms working for catfish. Walleye fair on leeches.

- Dipbait best for catfish at Chautauqua Lake says Keefer.

- At Clinton Lake catfish good on shrimp and shad guts says Joanne Lowe at Mike's Tackle World in Decatur. Walleye down some but fair with twister tails. Bass OK with jigs and spinners.